Short ride through Budapest

[daddylaci]

Yesterday afternoon I rode a short distance from my home to my sosn's workplace for a small package. I am living in north of Budapest, Hungary and the destination is Buda side of Budapest. May be you know Budapest has two main parts: Pest and Buda which are separated by the Danube river. Pest side is flat, Buda side is a little bit hilly. So I had to use one bridge of eight. A picture of the destination:

http://www.postimage.org/PqLatq9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqLatq9)

So, I chose the Margit bridge which named by a Hungarian princess and very interesting because of the shape. The bridge is not straight, that has a breaking in the middle and that point has a third arm to the Island Margit which located in the middle of river Danube. Here is the bridge from Buda side:

http://www.postimage.org/PqLbZcA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqLbZcA)

and my GZ at that point:

http://www.postimage.org/aVLFr8i.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVLFr8i)

You can see the weather was really nice: temperature around 15 Celsius (59 Fahrenheit), a little bit cloudy and weak breeze. Ideal for riding. After half an hour I arraived. One hill of Buda side:

http://www.postimage.org/gxpQUf9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxpQUf9)

I am at the destination:

http://www.postimage.org/gxpS54r.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxpS54r)

http://www.postimage.org/gxpScyS.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxpScyS)

http://www.postimage.org/gxpSf30.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxpSf30)
The GZ run very smoothly. The oil temperature was 85 Celsius (185 Fahrenheit)


After picking up the small package I rode back. I rode beside a nice building which is a hotel in Buda. We say Hotel Circular because that is a rotunda:

http://www.postimage.org/gxpUbh0.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxpUbh0)
Unfortunately in Pest side I saw result of a crash. A motobike lied down on the road and not far a car was smashed up. Probably they collided. To see that situation was not a good feeilng. You know, you have to be very carefull if you are on the road after a long interruption. If you are not, that is the result. So, be carefull.
After arriving to my home I checked the bike and the board computer. The oil temperature was almost the same:

http://www.postimage.org/gxpXjki.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxpXjki)

Trip distance: 38,18 km (24 miles)

http://www.postimage.org/aVLQVuJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVLQVuJ)

Average speed: 38,22 kmh (24 mph)

http://www.postimage.org/gxpXSfi.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxpXSfi)

Trip time: about one hour.

http://www.postimage.org/gxpXZJJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxpXZJJ)

Maximum speed: 89 kmh (55 mph) Oooooops!
http://www.postimage.org/gxpYnG9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxpYnG9)

Total distance so far: 4369 km (2715 miles)
http://www.postimage.org/gxpYdHA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxpYdHA)


That was my first ride reported to you and the first ride after wintertime and was nice to me. :) :)

[patrick_777]

Awesome report! I love the pictures of your city. Keep them coming!

[alanmcorcoran]

Thanks for taking the trouble to take some photos. I know riding and taking pictures don't always go together.

[music man]

I want one of those temperature gauges, and now we know for a fact they work on the GZ too.

[adrianinflorida]

I was in Budapest a couple of times in the mid-90's for the Hungarian GP. After hearing all of the 'propoganda' about 'iron curtain' countries (Even though it was after the fall of the USSR), back then, it was definately a pleasant surprise. One of the nicest cities in Europe that I've been to.

[daddylaci]

Thanks for taking the trouble to take some photos. I know riding and taking pictures don't always go together.
Sorry, I did not take any picture at the accident. I do not like to see that situation.

[alanmcorcoran]

Sorry, I did not take any picture at the accident. I do not like to see that situation.

Me neither.

Growing up in a country that's only a few hundred years old, I've always been fascinated by places where the "new" bridge is only, like, 900 years old. I've not been to Budapest, but I hope to make it out to Eastern Europe before my long distance flying days are over.

[Water Warrior 2]

That is interesting to find out. Buda and Pest are 2 halves of a city. Thank you for that bit of trivia to remember. Also, how well does the GZ speedo compare to the bike computer for speed and distance ?

[BusyWeb]

Nice looking place!

I wonder how did you put the Temp. guage on the bike?
Is it glued on the surface of block?
Or, is there a hole that fits temperature guage, and stick in some sensor?
If actual engine oil itself temperature is 80 something degree....
it may be little colder than I expected? (don't know proper temp. might be)

Anyway, thanks for the pictures. :roll:
I also had witnessed couple of bike accidents during the my weekend ridings.
But, I don't report those in the report here.
Don't know why... :cry:

[daddylaci]

That is interesting to find out. Buda and Pest are 2 halves of a city. Thank you for that bit of trivia to remember. Also, how well does the GZ speedo compare to the bike computer for speed and distance ?

The board computer is adjustable. I mean, you can type in the wheel circumference in a setting phase. If you are patient enough, you will set the computer exactly. However, that is interesting. Now the speed that the computer shows in action, a little bit less than the bike speedo. The difference is about 3-5 kmh. The distance is a bit more. So, I have to adjust the computer step by step. You can adjust the circumference by 1 mm.

[daddylaci]

Nice looking place!

I wonder how did you put the Temp. guage on the bike?
Is it glued on the surface of block?
Or, is there a hole that fits temperature guage, and stick in some sensor?
If actual engine oil itself temperature is 80 something degree....
it may be little colder than I expected? (don't know proper temp. might be)

Anyway, thanks for the pictures. :roll:
I also had witnessed couple of bike accidents during the my weekend ridings.
But, I don't report those in the report here.
Don't know why... :cry:

The temp guage is fit with a hole with thread, which is originally made for a cover cap. You can fill up the engine oil through that hole. You can see on the bike. The installation is very simple: unscrew the cap, screw in the gauge. That's all.

[alanmcorcoran]

I have owned about three or four different models of this type of computer on my bicycles. I have two mounted on bikes in the garage as we speak. A couple of observations:

1) I have had the same experience as daddylaci re accuracy. You set them to where you think they should be, make small adustments, and, on my bicycles anyway, they are soon very accurate (to the .10 of a mile over 50 miles, say.)
2) Most of them use a wire (some are wireless) and read a magnet going by on the wheel spoke. One more thing to deal with. You need to set them up and wrap them right so they aren't too loose but still allow the handlebar to move. Not a big deal really, but it's one more wire.
3) Most run on batteries (there are "solar" ones - I've never tried those.) The better ones automatically shutdown completely when not in use. Otherwise, you are feeding it little round camera batteries pretty regularly.
4) We typically take ours OFF the bike at stops and put 'em in our pocket. Even thought they only cost $29-$89 and are useless without the matching mount, people will steal them. Sigh.
5) They wear out - the LCD's can get scratched and fade from the sun, the wires fray, the magnet thing loosens and can fall off.
6) The mounts sometime don't tolerate weather (read: wet) well. The contacts rust - you can clean them up, but if you sand them too much, they can lose contact and then your readings go screwy.

I guess the temperature thing is interesting (never had that) but, I would never use one of these to replace the standard speed or distance unless my Suzi speedometer/odometer was hopelessly hosed.

[mr. softie]

Thanks for posting photos and a ride report daddylaci. I noticed even the chain link fence is ornate and done in an aesthetic way. That is something you don't see here. I would like to tour Europe again one day. I took a 5 month motorcycle tour there way back in 1971 but entry into the Eastern Block was not in the cards. I did meet some traveling groups of young people from Hungary, and they seemed to be happy and enthusiastic. Would love to visit Budapest as well as Prague and other historic and beautiful cities over there in the east, not so much as a tourist but as a motorcyclist "passing through".

As for pics of motorcycle accidents there are lots of websites where a person could see all that if they were inclined. A good reminder to ride safely perhaps but disquieting nonetheless.

[daddylaci]

Thanks for posting photos and a ride report daddylaci. I noticed even the chain link fence is ornate and done in an aesthetic way. That is something you don't see here. I would like to tour Europe again one day. I took a 5 month motorcycle tour there way back in 1971 but entry into the Eastern Block was not in the cards. I did meet some traveling groups of young people from Hungary, and they seemed to be happy and enthusiastic. Would love to visit Budapest as well as Prague and other historic and beautiful cities over there in the east, not so much as a tourist but as a motorcyclist "passing through".

As for pics of motorcycle accidents there are lots of websites where a person could see all that if they were inclined. A good reminder to ride safely perhaps but disquieting nonetheless.

Take a motorcycle tour from US to Europe is a nice ambition. Nowadays you can come to Hungary freely, as I can go to US. By the way, I visited US 3 times in 2000 and 2001 in business trip. That would be great if you are in Hungary we could meet, if you want. Just mail me if you plan your tour to Europe and we can arrange a meeting in Budapest. :)